Weekend of activities planned

Dust off your cowboy hats and bonnets, because it's time for the community's annual celebration of its heritage!

Mancos Days events will kick off on Friday at 10 a.m. with the children's parade down Grand Avenue. Kids' games will follow from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Boyle Park, with a fishing derby on the Mancos River at 1 p.m., weather permitting.

2013 Mancos Days Queen Shirley Whipple will be feted at the Queens Tea at Bauer House 15 1 p.m. Past queens will join her.

Saturday will start early, with the Boy Scout Pancake Breakfast at the school at 6:30 p.m.

At 11:30, the Four Corners Band will play at Boyle Park while everyone joins the queen for lunch. Activities will continue in the park all afternoon, including a greased-pole contest, gunnysack races, a tug of war, a mustache contest and arm wrestling. Parade winners will be announced at 2:30 in Boyle Park. The duck race will begin at 3 p.m. on the river.

All afternoon, curmudgeonly folks who have neglected to wear the requisite western headcoverings may find themselves in jail. Their friends and family can bail them out, with proceeds going to the Mancos Senior Center and the Mancos Arts Council.

The queens' quilt raffle winner will be announced at 1 p.m. Until then, tickets are available at Mancos Valley Bank or by calling Bev Humiston, 759-1332, or Queenie Barz, 749-9329. The VFW Ladies Auxiliary raffles off the handmade quilt - which is, appropriately, queen-sized and made from material matching the gowns of Mancos Days queens - to help fund youth-oriented projects, including the Just Say No drug awareness art contest.

A spaghetti dinner will be held from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., and the street dance and barbecue will begin at 7 in front of Town Hall, with barbecue provided by P&D Grocery.

On Sunday afternoon, there will be water fights on Main Street, weather permitting.

ICE-CREAM SOCIAL,

LIBRARY BOOK SALE

The Mancos Friends of the Library will have a "Friends Only" Bonnets and Hats Ice-cream Social on Thursday, July 25, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the library. Although the event is for "Friends only," memberships will be available at the door.

Wear your crazy bonnet or silly hat and come for ice-cream with all the fixings and first pick of books from the sale, which offers a great new selection!

Starting on Friday, July 26, the book sale will be open to the public from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and again on Saturday, July 27, from 11 a.m. (after the parade) to 3 p.m.

The Friends could always use volunteer help for the sale; set up starts at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, July 24, and there are various shifts available during the sale.

Call the library at 533-7600 or stop by to sign up. All proceeds benefit the Mancos Public Library and its programs.

VENDORS IN BOYLE PARK

Vendors will be setting up booths in the park starting at 3 p.m. Thursday.

They will be open after the parades, if not before, on Friday and Saturday, and throughout the day on Sunday.

PARADES!

Bring lawn chairs to watch the Mancos Days parades along Grand Avenue.

Lineup for the children's parade will begin at 9:30 a.m. Friday at Grand and Beech, and the parade will begin at 10.

Registration and lineup for the Saturday Parade will be at 9 a.m., at Grand and Spruce, and the parade will begin at 10.

BIKE DECORATION FOR THE PARADE

Children ages 8 and up are invited to go to the Mancos Public Library, 211 W. First, on Friday, July 26, between 2 and 4 p.m. to decorate their bicycles, and then to ride in the parade on Saturday, July 27, at 10 a.m. with the library crew. All decoration supplies will be provided.

Younger children are welcome to participate as long as they have an adult who will stay with them. For more information, call the library at 533-7600.

GRAND SUMMER NIGHTS

The art galleries of Mancos will be open from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday evening to welcome Mancos Days visitors strolling through downtown.

There will be live music and refreshments.

FIREWORKS SATURDAY NIGHT

In tribute to the 19 fallen firefighters of the Granite Mountain Hot Shots team from Prescott, Ariz., the Mancos Fire Department will be shooting off fireworks on Saturday, July 27, after the softball tournament.